Storing device for chunks of water ice and method for providing chunks of water ice

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a storing device for ice chunks that includes a receiving compartment for receiving therein ice chunks and a movable stirrer for effecting displacement of ice chunks received in the receiving compartment. The movable stirrer extends in the receiving compartment and rotates about a stirrer axis with the movable stirrer being disposed relative to the receiving compartment such that its stirrer axis extends through two surfaces of the receiving compartment. The movable stirrer is drivable in a stirring movement in a manner such that the movable stirrer effects displacement of the ice chunks with a substantial portion of the ice chunks not be advanced in a either a direction toward one of the two surfaces through which the stirrer axis extends of the other of the two surfaces through which the stirrer axis extends.

The invention relates to a storing device for chunks of ice, especially water ice, with a receiving compartment for the chunks of ice with a bottom, and at least one mobile stirrer for the ice chunks which is especially rotatable about an axis, with the stirrer being arranged in the receiving compartment, and also with an automatic ice machine and a method for preparing ice chunks.

The provision of domestic freezers and domestic refrigeration-freezer combinations with an automatic ice maker is known for producing water ice in pieces of approximately 13 g to 20 g in weight. Ice makers should have the maximum possible rate of ice production and it is important that they operate reliably and without faults. In particular, clogging of the ice is to be avoided because clogged ice can lead to functional incompetency of the ice maker.

It is usual for such devices to have an ice storing unit and an ice outlet unit. Convective cold air cooling is normally provided for the ice production. After production of the ice chunks, the ice chunks drop into the ice storing device where they remain until removed by the user. Removal of the ice chunks normally takes place either manually, e.g. by removing a storage tray and then emptying or scooping out the ice chunks by hand from the storage tray or automatically by means of an automatic transport mechanism which transports the ice chunks from the ice storage unit to an ice outlet unit. If the ice chunks in the ice storage unit are clogged, removal is impeded, which, particularly in the case of automatic removal, leads to substantial mechanical loading of the moving components and thus substantive wear of these components. Depending on the level of the clogging, automatic ice discharge can even become completely impossible. The degree of clogging typically increases with the length of storage of the ice chunks, with the air humidity and dripping water in the storing device causing the ice chunks to freeze to each other.

The object of this invention is therefore to provide a storing device for ice chunks, an automatic ice machine and a method for storing ice chunks, with it being possible to store the ice chunks for a long period without clogging, so that even when stored for long periods the ice chunks can still be reliably discharged.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the storing device, the automatic ice machine and the method for providing ice chunks as given in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments and developments that in each case can be applied equally or in any combination with each other are the subject matter of the respective dependent claims.

With the inventive storing device for ice chunks, especially ice water ice chunks, with a receiving compartment for ice chunks that has a bottom and at least one mobile stirrer for the ice chunks which is especially rotatable about an axis, with the stirrer being located in the receiving compartment and the stirrer not performing a continuous movement in one direction.

The receiving compartment can for example have a capacity of 4 to 50 liters, especially 8 to 30 liters, preferably 15 to 20 liters. The ice chunks are produced with the aid of an ice maker and are stored in the receiving compartment until removal. The storing device is particularly suitable and designed for the storage of water ice chunks.

The ice chunks are loosened with the aid of the stirrer and clogging of the ice chunks is prevented by the loosening. Even already existing smaller clumps of ice chunks are broken up by the loosening movement of the ice chunks. The stirrer can rotate about an axis but can also perform a translatory movement or swiveling movement.

It is important that the stirrer does not impart a continuous movement in one direction, i.e. that the chunks of ice can essentially return to their original position after a movement cycle of the stirrer. The stirrer is, for example, not inclined. The chunks of ice are not conveyed in one direction due to its movement, e.g. a rotary movement. The lack of continuous movement in one direction inter alia avoids a buildup that would occur due to a continuous movement in one direction.

The ice chunks are essentially moved only backwards and forwards by the motion of the stirrer e.g. up and down in the receiving compartment. This backward and forward movement means that adhesions or clogged pieces are broken up or avoided.

In one embodiment, the stirrer is arranged close to the bottom, especially in the bottom half of the receiving compartment, preferably in the bottom third, particularly preferably in the lower quarter of the receiving compartment. By means of an arrangement of this kind, all the ice chunks above the stirrer in the receiving compartment are loosened up.

The stirrer can be rotated about an essentially horizontal axis. The stirrer can be arranged in front of a discharge opening for the ice chunks. The discharge opening serves to enable the ice chunks to be removed from the receiving compartment. For this purpose, the discharge opening can have a closeable flap that is manually or automatically opened for discharge of the ice chunks and then closed. By means of the arrangement of the stirrer in front of the discharge opening, especially at a distance of less than 6 cm, particularly less than 4 cm, preferably less than 3 cm, the movement of the stirrer causes the ice chunks in the immediate vicinity of the discharge opening to loosen, thereby facilitating a removal of the ice chunks.

The stirrer can have a plurality of stirring elements, such as stirring paddles or rods for instance. The stirring elements are advantageously formed by a rod, that is essentially free of bevels relative to the circumferential direction of the stirrer, and is bent especially in one or more planes lying at right angles to each other, preferably in a zigzag or wave shape.

The stirrer is rotated at an angular frequency in the range of 0.1 rotations/second to 10 rotations per second, especially in a range of 0.5 rotations to 4 rotations per second.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the receiving compartment is sloping and is inclined towards the discharge opening for the water ice chunks. Due to the sloping of the bottom, the ice chunks slide towards the discharge opening on their own, where they can easily be removed. The ice chunks are more free-flowing due to the lack of a continuous movement of the stirrer in one direction and loosening of the ice chunks associated therewith.

In a special development, a timer is provided for the stirrer, which controls the stirrer at preset intervals with preset pauses. Advantageously, the user can choose between different programs that control how often, how strongly and with which pauses the ice chunks in the receiving compartment are to be loosened. The timer can also include other parameters such as the degree of humidity or the temperature in the receiving compartment. The time intervals from loosening to loosening can thus be shortened and/or the intensity increased if the ambient conditions of the ice chunks in the receiving compartment favor clogging of the ice chunks.

The automatic ice machine according to the invention has a refrigerating machine for producing the ice chunks and the inventive storing device for the ice chunks. By using the inventive storing device, the automatic ice machine has a high degree of reliability and operating safety, with malfunctions, such as overloading of the discharge unit for ice chunks due to persistent clogging of the ice chunks being particularly avoided

The automatic ice machine can comprise convective cold air cooling. The normal production rates for ice lie in the range of 1 kg ice weight per hour up to 100 kg ice weight per hour, especially in a range of 20 kg ice weight per hour and 40 kg ice weight per hour.

With the inventive method for producing ice chunks, the ice chunks are loosened by the stirrer without continuous movement in one direction. The lack of continuous movement in one direction by the stirrer thus prevents the ice chunks from being pressed together when the stirrer moves and consequently with no ice chunks are removed from the receiving compartment. Due to the lack of continuous movement in one direction, the ice chunks are merely moved out of their original position and then back to their original position. They are not moved along a lengthwise path.

The ice chunks are advantageously moved at predetermined time intervals. Both the intensity of the movement, i.e. the distance over which the ice chunks are moved backwards and forwards or the speed with which the ice chunks are moved, and also the number and duration of the pauses between two loosening operations are herewith preset. It is herewith advantageous if the time intervals can be freely selected by the user. In a special embodiment, further parameters, especially the air humidity in the receiving compartment or the temperature of the ice chunks can be allowed for when controlling the movement of the stirrer.

In a special embodiment, the ice chunks are loosened at regular intervals, in particular at least once per day, preferably at least once every two hours, particularly preferably at least once per hour. It is herewith advantageous if the ice chunks are moved less than five times per hour, in particular less than three times per hour. Excessively frequent movements of the ice chunks waste energy and generate unnecessary noise.

The ice chunks have a weight in the range of 5 g to 40 g, in particular in the range of 10 g to 30 g, preferably in the range of 13 g to 20 g. Such sizes are particularly suitable for use in drinking cups or jugs.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method, the ice chunks are discharged in that they slide on a sloping surface to the opening for removal. At the discharge opening they can, for example, be removed from the receiving compartment with the aid of a flap. After removal, the flap is closed thus preventing the ingress of warm external air into the receiving compartment.

Advantageously, the sliding of the ice chunks is promoted by the movement of the stirrer. For this purpose, the stirrer is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the discharge opening. The stirrer then loosens the ice chunks in the immediate vicinity of the discharge opening. Advantageously, the stirrer performs a movement when the ice chunks are being removed. The ice chunks are thus more free-flowing and can be easily removed through the discharge opening.

Further advantageous embodiments and particular advantages are explained in more detail with the aid of the following drawings, which do not limit the invention but instead are meant merely as examples. The drawings are as follows;

FIG. 1 an inventive automatic ice machine with the inventive storing device with an open discharge opening.

FIG. 2 the automatic ice machine according to FIG. 2 with a closed discharge opening.

FIG. 1 shows the inventive automatic ice machine 12 with the inventive storing device 1, shown in cross-section with the discharge opening 7 open, with water ice chunks 2 being produced with the aid of an ice maker 16 and fed to the receiving compartment 3. The ice chunks 2 are cooled in the receiving compartment 3 with the aid of cold air cooling 9. A drive 10 drives the stirrer 4, that has stirring element 13 with the ice chunks 2 being loosened by a backward and forward movement without them being conveyed in one or other direction. The rotation of the stirrer merely raises and then lowers the ice chunks 2. The stirring elements 13 are formed by a rod 14 that is bent in a zig-zag in one plane. The stirrer 4 rotates about an essentially horizontal axis 6 and is arranged directly close to the discharge opening 7. The receiving compartment 3 has a bottom that slopes so that the ice chunks 2 can slide to the discharge opening 7. A sloping bottom 5, or a correspondingly sloping surface 11, conveys the ice chunks 2 to the discharge opening 7. The time intervals between two loosening operations of the stirrer 4, the intensity or duration of the loosening or the rotational frequency of the stirrer 4 can be preset by means of a loading unit 15. A timer controls the stirrer 4 from time to time in order to effect a loosening of the ice chunks 2.

FIG. 2 shows the automatic ice machine 12 according to FIG. 1 with the discharge opening 7 open. Even if the discharge opening 7 is closed, the stirrer 4 can be moved and a loosening of the ice chunks 2 effected without a build up occurring due to a continuous movement in one direction. Due to the absence of a continuous movement of the stirrer 4 in one direction, a simple and effective loosening of the ice chunks 2 is enabled, so that clogging of the ice chunks 2 is prevented and a simple removal of the ice chunks 2 from the receiving compartment 3 is enabled.

The invention relates to a storing device 1 for chunks 2 of (water) ice, comprising of a receiving compartment 3 for the ice chunks 2, which has a bottom 5, and at least one mobile stirrer 4 for the ice chunks 2 which is especially rotatable about an axis 6, with the stirrer 4 being located in the receiving compartment 3 and the stirrer not performing a continuous movement in one direction. The invention also relates to an automatic ice machine comprising the inventive storing device and to a method for providing ice chunks 2. The invention is characterized in that the stirrer 4, which does not impart a continuous movement in one direction, effectively loosens up the ice chunks 2 in an easy manner, thereby counteracting clogging of the ice chunks 2 and substantially increasing the reliability of operation of the storing device or the automatic ice machine.

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST

-   1 Storing device -   2 Chunks of ice -   3 Receiving compartment -   4 Stirrer -   5 Bottom -   6 Axis -   7 Discharge opening -   8 Timer -   9 Cold air cooling -   10 Drive -   11 Sloping surface -   12 Automatic ice machine -   13 Stirring element -   14 Rod -   15 Loading unit -   16 Ice maker 

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A storing device for ice chunks, the storing device comprising: a.) a receiving compartment for receiving therein ice chunks the receiving compartment having a bottom and b.) a movable stirrer for effecting displacement of ice chunks received in the receiving compartment, the movable stirrer extending in the receiving compartment and being rotatable about a stirrer axis with the movable stirrer being disposed relative to the receiving compartment such that its stirrer axis extends through two surfaces of the receiving compartment and the movable stirrer being drivable in a stirring movement in a manner such that the movable stirrer effects displacement of the ice chunks with a substantial portion of the ice chunks not being advanced in a either a direction toward one of the two surfaces through which the stirrer axis extends or toward the other of the two surfaces through which the stirrer axis extends.
 19. The storing device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the stirrer is disposed close to the bottom of the receiving compartment, in particular in the lower half, in the lower third, or in the lower quarter of the receiving compartment.
 20. The storing device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the stirrer rotates about an essentially horizontal stirrer axis.
 21. The storing device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the stirrer is arranged in front of a discharge opening for the ice chunks.
 22. The storing device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the stirrer has a plurality of stirring elements.
 23. The storing device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the stirring elements are formed by a rod that is essentially free of bevels relative to the circumferential direction of the stirrer, and the rod is bent in particular in one or more planes lying at right angles to each other, preferably in the form of a zig-zag or wave.
 24. The storing device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the bottom of the receiving compartment slopes down to a discharge opening for the ice chunks.
 25. The storing device as claimed in claim 18 and further characterized by a timer for the stirrer that controls the stirrer at predetermined intervals and with predetermined pauses.
 26. A refrigerating device comprising: a.) a compartment for retaining therein cooled goods; and b.) a storing device storing device for ice chunks, the storing device including: i.) a receiving compartment for receiving therein ice chunks the receiving compartment having a bottom and ii.) a movable stirrer for effecting displacement of ice chunks received in the receiving compartment, the movable stirrer extending in the receiving compartment and being rotatable about a stirrer axis with the movable stirrer being disposed relative to the receiving compartment such that its stirrer axis extends through two surfaces of the receiving compartment and the movable stirrer being drivable in a stirring movement in a manner such that the movable stirrer effects displacement of the ice chunks with a substantial portion of the ice chunks not be advanced in a either a direction toward one of the two surfaces through which the stirrer axis extends of the other of the two surfaces through which the stirrer axis extends.
 27. The refrigerating device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the refrigerating device is configured as a frost-free refrigerating device.
 28. A method for producing ice chunks, especially water ice chunks, the method comprising: producing a quantity of ice chunks; and loosening the ice chunks via the assistance of a stirrer that does not perform a continuous movement in one direction.
 29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of loosening the ice chunks includes loosening the ice chunks by movement thereof at predetermined time intervals.
 30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the step of loosening the ice chunks includes loosening the ice chunks by movement thereof at predetermined time intervals freely selected by the user.
 31. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of loosening the ice chunks includes loosening the ice chunks by movement thereof at regular intervals, in particular at least once a day, at least once every two hours, or at least once per hour.
 32. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of loosening the ice chunks includes loosening ice chunks having a weight in the range of 5 g to 40 g, in particular in the range of 10 g to 30 g., and preferably in a range of 13 to 20 g.
 33. The method as claimed in claim 28 and further comprising discharging the ice chunks to slide along a sloping surface to a discharge opening.
 34. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the step of discharging the ice chunks includes assisting the sliding by the movement of the stirrer. 